Exodus 37

The Ark of the Covenant

1 Bezalel made the ark of the covenant out of acacia wood. It was three feet nine inches long and two feet three inches wide and high.

2 He covered it inside and outside with pure gold. He put a strip of gold around it.

3 He made four gold rings for it. He joined them to its four bottom corners. He put two rings on one side and two rings on the other.

4 Then he made poles out of acacia wood. He covered them with gold.

5 He put the poles through the rings on the sides of the ark to carry it.

6 He made its cover out of pure gold. It was three feet nine inches long and two feet three inches wide. The cover is the place where sin is paid for.

7 He made two cherubim out of hammered gold at the ends of the cover.

8 He put one cherub on each end of it.

9 He made the cherubim as part of the cover itself. The cherubim's wings spread up over the cover. The cherubim faced each other and looked toward the cover.

The Table for the Holy Bread

10 The workers made the table out of acacia wood. It was three feet long, one foot six inches wide and two feet three inches high.

11 They covered it with pure gold. They put a strip of gold around it.

12 They also made a rim three inches wide around it. They put a strip of gold around the rim.

13 They made four gold rings for the table. They joined them to the four corners, where the four legs were.

14 The rings were close to the rim. They held the poles that were used to carry the table.

15 The workers made the poles out of acacia wood. They covered them with gold.

16 They made plates, dishes and bowls out of pure gold for the table. They also made pure gold pitchers to pour out drink offerings.

The Gold Lampstand

17 The workers made the lampstand out of pure gold. They hammered out its base and stem. Its buds, blooms and cups branched out from it.

18 Six branches came out from the sides of the lampstand. There were three on one side and three on the other.

19 On one branch there were three cups that were shaped like almond flowers with buds and blooms. There were three on the next branch. There were three on all six branches that came out from the lampstand.

20 On the lampstand there were four cups that were shaped like almond flowers with buds and blooms.

21 One bud was under the first pair of branches that came out from the lampstand. A second bud was under the second pair. And a third bud was under the third pair. There was a total of six branches.

22 The buds and branches came out from the lampstand. The whole lampstand was one piece that was hammered out of pure gold.

23 The workers made its seven lamps out of pure gold. They also made its trays and wick cutters out of pure gold.

24 They used 75 pounds of pure gold to make the lampstand and everything that was used with it.

The Altar for Burning Incense

25 The workers made an altar for burning incense. They made it out of acacia wood. It was one foot six inches square and three feet high. A horn stuck out from each of its upper four corners.

26 The workers covered the top, sides and horns with pure gold. They put a strip of gold around it.

27 They made two gold rings below the strip. They put the rings across from each other. The rings held the poles that were used to carry it.

28 The workers made the poles out of acacia wood. They covered them with gold.

29 They also made the sacred anointing oil and the pure, sweet-smelling incense. A person who makes perfume made them.

Exodus 37 Commentary

Chapter 37

The making of the ark, and the furniture of the tabernacle.

- In the furniture of the tabernacle were emblems of a spiritual and acceptable service. The incense represented the prayers of the saints. The sacrifice of the alter represented the Lamb of God that taketh away the sins of the world. The golden pot with manna, or bread from heaven, the flesh of Jesus Christ, which he gave for the life of the world. The candlestick, with its lights, the teaching and enlightening of the Holy Spirit. The shew-bread represented that provision for those who hunger and thirst after righteousness, which the gospel, the ordinances and the sacraments of the house of prayer, abundantly bestow. The exactness of the workmen to their rule, should be followed by us; seeking for the influences of the Holy Spirit, that we may rejoice in and glorify God while in this world, and at length be with him for ever.

Chapter Summary

INTRODUCTION TO EXODUS 37

This chapter continues the account of the making of the tabernacle, and the furniture of it, particularly the ark, mercy seat, and cherubim, Ex 37:1-9 the shewbread table, and what appertained to that, Ex 37:10-16 the candlestick, and all the vessels of it, Ex 37:17-24 and the altar of incense, together with the anointing oil, and pure incense, Ex 37:25-29.

because he gave his mind to this work more than the rest of the wise men, it is called by his name. It is a notion of some Jewish writers that the ark was made by Bezaleel, without the help of others; but there is no sufficient reason to be given for it; for other things are equally ascribed to him in this and the following chapter, as the mercy seat with the cherubim, the shewbread table, the candlestick of pure gold, the two altars, the laver of brass, with other things, which are only said to be made by him, because they were made by his direction, and he having the oversight of them while making; wherefore Aben Ezra observes, that this is particularly said for the glory of the ark. Of the ark, and all other things mentioned in this chapter, \\see Gill on "Ex 25:1"\\ &c. to end of chapter, \\see Gill on "Ex 30:1"\\ &c. to end of chapter. 10564-941108-1324-Ex37.2